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Marijuana acceptance is a very recent, burgeoning trend, and it is certainly not welcomed by everyone. A great many negative opinions still exist on the subject of marijuana and a number of people want it to remain a banned substance. However, the educated demographic of people opposed to marijuana legalization still understand that it is proving to have many potential uses. In fact, one would have to carry a bias to deny that marijuana is without benefits.

The science of medical marijuana is a very new field which we can expect to grow immensely in the years to come. The effect that marijuana has on cell regeneration is a growing area of study. Marijuana is a very mysterious herb in that it has been observed to destroy some types of cells and replenish others. It is possible that marijuana is capable of regrowing some types of cells that have been killed by disease, substance abuse and age, like the type of cell found in bodily tissues and even brain matter.

Marijuana is also being found to act as powerful relief for a number of mental problems. Marijuana seems to be the most helpful for mental problems that involve some kind of trauma, such as anxiety, depression and PTSD. This is in part accredited to its ability to reroute the neural network and make the brain temporarily forget or reorganize information. There is still a great deal of testing that needs to be done in this area, but a number of people swear that marijuana has therapeutic effects far beyond what science has identified thus far.

Apart from these recent discoveries in marijuana, it has long been known to help people in a variety of ways. Marijuana has the ability to stimulate hunger and ease the unpleasant physical symptoms of a number of diseases and maladies, including multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, cancer, spinal injuries and AIDS. It helps people with nausea eat, it helps people living with chronic pain to relax and it can play an important part in physical therapy.

Marijuana is being discovered to have many benefits, however, even intelligent pro marijuana advocates acknowledge that there is good reason to exercise caution with marijuana and to not use it haphazardly. Marijuana is a controversial matter in North America. An illegal substance for decades, marijuana is only recently gaining some acceptance as a medicinal plant and a relatively safe recreational substance.

One particular problem observed in marijuana users are the mental problems they create or exacerbate in some people. Marijuana is known for its mild, gentle effects that provide relaxation to its users. But the fact remains that like any drug, it does not effect everyone in the same way. Some sedatives cause energy and anxiety in certain brain types, some sleep aids cause an allergic reaction in certain users and so on. One of the reasons that marijuana is being studied so heavily right now is because it has not been categorized for what type of effect it has on the brain. It would seem to effect different people in different ways, some positive and some negative. It is of particular concern to medical and mental health professionals that marijuana causes fear, paranoia, anxiety and even psychosis in some cases.

Another drawback to smoking marijuana is that smoking any plant matter results in some carcinogens that are hard on the lungs, and marijuana is no exception. The process of inhaling carcinogens and burning plant matter creates build up on the lungs over time that can cause cancer and other lung conditions. It is true, however, that burning through a cigarette is far more toxic than burning through a bud of marijuana because cigarettes contain tar and chemicals that cause cancer and other lung problems.

If there is any one true sentiment about marijuana use it is that there is simply too much we do not know about it yet and it should be approached with respect. It was prohibited for so many decades and studies were simply not done on it. There is a great deal of research to catch up on before we have a clear idea of how marijuana works and how widely embraced it can be.

Some people like to argue that it is impossible to abuse marijuana, however, anyone who has spent considerable time with a real pothead knows this is not the case. Your pothead friend probably spends most of the time you are with them spaced out and disengaged from conversation. They only time they chime in with any kind of attention span is when the conversation is about marijuana. They constantly offer you weed, despite you having already told them no, and would rather eat and play video games or watch movies than do just about anything else.

This behavior can grow tiring to friends and family, and leave them with no doubt in their minds that marijuana can, in fact, be abused. A closer inspection of the ways marijuana is used confirms this. It is entirely possible to use marijuana responsibly and moderate it to a respectable level. This is achieved by carefully constructing a suitable dosage for each individual based on the way that marijuana effects them. However, there are a number of things that can misinform a person about how much marijuana they need to ingest in order to achieve this harmonic balance.

First of all, marijuana has hardly been studied in medical science because of how incriminated it has been for so many years. The incorrect dosages of marijuana that people ingest are partly due to medical opinions on it being absent altogether. Secondly, being objective about the effects marijuana is having on you personally is extremely difficult. While a person is under the influence of marijuana, they are hardly thinking clearly. A person can go years without understanding how marijuana is effecting them on an immediate and on a broad level. And lastly, even when a person is becoming aware that they need to cut back on their marijuana use, their love affair with it may make them incapable of cutting back.

One of the most controversial debates that arises over cannabis is whether it is addictive or merely habit forming. This controversy is more complex than either side of the argument would have people believe. There are those who are in opposition to marijuana use who argue that it is entirely addictive because they have seen their kids or loved ones fall into its clutches and never be the same again. There are those who are in defense of marijuana use who cite medical studies that claim marijuana is the most beneficial drug we can put into our bodies, and that it does not have addictive properties. So which side is correct?

It is true that marijuana can be addictive to some people. Addiction is defined as anything that a person places at an unproportionate level of importance. That makes addiction psychological even when it is not chemical. Therefore, anything that gives pleasure can become addictive to certain people. Addiction is as much in the mind as it is in the chemistry. The underlying cause of addiction comes from inhibited dopamine production. Dopamine is the chemical the brain releases when it is experiencing pleasure. Those who are unable to create it often turn to substances or activities that create it for them. The overarching reason that people use substances and activities excessively is due to their own brain function and is less about the addictive properties of the substance or activity.

Having said that, it is also true that marijuana is not addictive in the same way heroine or alcohol are. Substances like heroine and alcohol have addictive properties that make their users chemically dependent on them. A person who uses substances like this will become chemically tolerant of them and will have to increase their dosage in order to continue feeling their effects. However, taking in large amounts of alcohol or heroine will alter a person’s bodily chemistry to the point of making them physically dependent. Quitting them cold turkey can be extremely dangerous and will result in devastating symptoms. Marijuana has no such effect.

Cannabis culture has steadily been progressing over the last century. In the present day, tens of millions of people living in North America have used marijuana for a time or use it continuously still. Cannabis culture has an image and it has a philosophy, both of which are neither good nor bad. There are things about cannabis that are worthy of praise and things about it that are worthy of caution.

The image of cannabis culture is all too recognizable. It is generally characterized by Rastafarian colors, reggae music, Bohemian apparel and a generally relaxed vibe along with plenty of snacks. It is also presently associated with public displays that intend to influence mainstream culture and legislation in favor of cannabis freedom. These scenes are often represented by the 4/20 symbol (April 20th is embraced informally as a day to celebrate cannabis) and public figures such as Marc Emery, who served time in a federal United States prison for his cannabis charges, are toted.

What lies beneath the image is a somewhat worshipful regard for marijuana. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, is a mild hallucinogen that has very particular effects on the brain and body. Its effects can range from bursts of imagination to a calming effect to increased energy to sedated behavior. Like most drugs, prescription or black market, marijuana does not effect everyone in the same way. It has the potential for incredible health benefits in some cases as well as the potential for psychosis and health complications in other cases. There is much about marijuana that still needs to be studied.

Those who use marijuana and derive benefit from it tend to revere it. They want to be under its influence for most life situations. They are frequently telling other people about how enhanced their experiences were because of the influences of marijuana. Some people who routinely use marijuana learn to handle its effects gracefully while others perpetuate the pothead stereotype of lazy and tuned out.

Marijuana culture today is so prevalent that many consider it to be part of their identity. Most of us have known someone at some point who not only smokes recreational marijuana, but they also sport Rastafarian colors in their homes, have a Bob Marley poster on their wall and launch into an hour long defense of marijuana use whenever the subject comes up. For them, marijuana use has become a way of life and something of a focal point in their lives.

This is a fairly common path that certain kinds of people choose, particularly young people. People are introduced to marijuana in a number of ways. Some want to be rebellious and seen as “cool.” Some are peer pressured. And some genuinely want to know how they perceive the world through an altered perception. People have a wide range of reactions to marijuana when they try it – everything from detesting it to not feeling affected by it to feeling strange to loving it. Some give it up and some continue to use it. Those who continue to use marijuana may use it in moderation, or they may become like our bong-toting, “One Love” singing subject, who the rest of us perceive as a bit too reverent toward cannabis.

What no one tells this weed enthusiast is that those who do not practice moderation with marijuana usually pigeon-hole themselves into a certain type of identity and reputation. Relationships with people who do not smoke weed begin to suffer because of an inability to relate to one another. Jobs and school performances become lackadaisical and in some cases get the individual fired or kicked out. Life responsibilities and obligations are not prioritized in a healthy, functional way and the person often gains the reputation of being undependable.

Feelings on marijuana use are mixed and controversial. What we do know for certain, however, is that moderation is essential, just like with any other pleasurable activity in life. Many people who go through this love affair with marijuana eventually shift their focus back to life obligations and find they have some rebuilding to do. It is never too late to shift your life’s focus from marijuana to something more purposeful. For those struggling with this effort, marijuana addiction rehabilitation and counseling are available.